Bows and arrows were essential military supplies on ancient battlefields, and because they could attack enemies at long distances, many troops were used for long-range shooting or assassination operations. The ancient archers were the equivalent of modern snipers lurking in the shadows.
Therefore, good archery can not only defeat one hundred enemies on the battlefield, but also play a role in deterring the enemy army. Ancient armies attached great importance to the cultivation of archers, so there were many famous archers in history, such as the well-known Houyi, Lü Bu, Huang Zhong, and Li Guang.
Every dynasty has its own hero, in the Song Dynasty there was a general who was not only the "divine archer" in the hearts of the people of the dynasty, but also a god-like existence in the eyes of the Khitan people, he was the general of the Song Army, He Guan, and his deeds also had many legends.
The Sharpshooter is born
Since wu zetian of the Tang Dynasty initiated the martial arts examination system, many people with high martial arts or skilled skills can seek merit by taking the martial arts examination. He Guan is one of the people who are deeply affected by this system.
He Guan, a native of Kaifeng City, Henan Province, ascended to the top and first place by participating in the martial arts examination held by the imperial court, obtained the title of Wu Zhuangyuan, and was appointed by Emperor Huizong of Song to work on Hedong Road, opening his official path.
During his time in Hedong, he was admired by the jingjing envoy Han Jian, who told He Guan: "You are a talented person, and you will definitely be able to take my place in the future." However, Han Jian did not look away, and after that, He Guan practiced archery assiduously in the army, and soon became a sharp archer in a hundred shots.
Once the Western Xia army came to attack, he Guan had the opportunity to show his strength for the first time. That time the enemy pursued He Guan in the rear, and he held up his bow and arrow, and his eyes were firm.
Only to see the arrow "sigh" flew out, after hitting the enemy's armor, the whole arrow shot through the man's chest towards the person behind, and finally hit the chest of the person behind.
This archery of the two birds of stone shocked the Western Xia people, thinking that they had encountered the sharpshooter of the Great Song, so they fled in a hurry, and did not dare to chase after it again.
In this battle, He Guan's reputation in the army also soared. Soon after, He Guan was recommended to Emperor Huizong of Song, and he was proclaimed into the palace by the emperor. Emperor Huizong of Song tested him and said, "What does Qing think of the current situation of the enemy and us on the northwestern border?" ”
Seeing that He Guan used his own court plate to draw a picture on the emperor's imperial bed, acting as a sand table to explain and analyze the situation on the border according to the patterns on the imperial bed, the emperor said at a glance: "When you describe it like this, the enemy seems to have reached my eyes."
Emperor Huizong of Song promoted He Guan to be the envoy of Zheng Liupin (正六品) and put in charge of Weizhou (威州刺史) and Zhicang Prefecture (知沧州). Later, because of his meritorious efforts in guarding the border plug, he was promoted to the position of inspector of the prefecture and inspector of the volcano army.
Conquest of the Liao State
He Guan was stationed in the border area all year round, so there was friction with the Western Xia and Liao states. But he relied on his talents to govern the border plugs in an orderly manner, and he also threatened the four sides as his "sharpshooter".
The Western Xia people had learned He Guan's archery skills many times, and for a long time they still had palpitations in their hearts. The Khitans of the Liao State also saw He Guan's archery skills in a friction, and since then they have crowned He Guan as a hero like a "god".
This incident occurred when He Guan was serving as an inspector of the volcano army, because there were many grasslands in the Liao region, the climate was dry and water was scarce, so the Khitan people often crossed the border to the territory of the Song Dynasty to get water.
Later, after He Guan learned of this incident, he demarcated the border between the two countries, hoping to prevent the Khitans from crossing the border to get water through this "Three-Eighth Line". However, this move angered the Liao people, who felt that He Guan was deliberately trying to embarrass them, so they led their troops to attack.
When the Liao soldiers approached the city, He Guan immediately rushed to the front of the battle on horseback, raised his bow and arrow and shouted at the enemy army: "Those who know each other must quickly retreat, otherwise they will make you look good."
The Liao people thought that this man was also too arrogant, not only did not retreat, but on the contrary, he took a step closer. Only to see He Guan unhurriedly pull out his bow and arrow, staring intently at the enemy, seeing that this plane was about to shoot the first arrow.
However, after the Liao people saw it, they were calm, only because the distance between the two armies was relatively far away, and they were not within the range of the bow and arrow at all, and they expected that He Guan would not be able to shoot them. Saying that it was late and fast, He Guan let go of his hand and kept his bow and arrow racing towards the Liao army.
A "snap" shot into the mountain stone next to the Liao army, and then he fired two arrows in a row, both of which were shot in the mountain stone. Three times, the arrows were shot crooked, causing more than 10,000 Liao troops to laugh wildly.
However, after the Liao Army smiled, he fixed his eyes on it, and the three arrows were arranged in a straight line on the mountain stone. At this moment, they couldn't laugh at all, if it wasn't for the other party's archery skills, how could they shoot so accurately. The Liao army then announced its withdrawal and never dared to attack again.
This incident was widely spread among the Liao army, and He Guan also became a "god" in their minds, and they worshipped his archery. Because the Khitans practiced archery from an early age, they often hunted in the jungle, and those who were proficient in archery were called national heroes.
Therefore, when encountering "sharp archers" like He Guan, they are naturally very admired and respected. Therefore, during the period when He Guanzhen was guarding the border, the Liao people did not dare to invade again.
Thirty years later, He Guan had a relationship with Xiao Taishi of the Khitans, and when the two met Xiao Taishi, they talked about this past, but he did not know that He Guan in front of him was the great "sharp archer" in his mouth, and later He Guan revealed his identity, and Xiao Taishi solemnly respected and hurriedly performed the ritual.
Battle to the death of the city walls
In the last years of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Jin Dynasty, which had suddenly sprung up, was attacked from time to time, and everyone in the imperial court was panicked. Coupled with the corrupt life style of Emperor Huizong of Song and the imperial court, and the traitorous ministers controlling the power of the imperial government, the Northern Song Dynasty was easily attacked by Dajin.
Even with a "sharp archer" like He Guan, it was difficult to resist the constantly invading Golden Army. Seven years after Xuanhe, the Jin army again marched south to invade the Northern Song Dynasty. The imperial court appointed He Guan to garrison Baimajin in Xunzhou, Yuwen Xuanzhong to guard Heyang Mengjin and Luoyang Zhuling, and Liang Fangping to guard Liyang.
The three of them jointly commanded the forbidden army of the imperial court, and at this time Daikin's army was stationed in Huazhou. He Guan suggested to The Prime Minister Bai Shizhong: "Now that Dajin has poured all its national strength into attacking, it is bound to be a bitter battle, you let Liang Fangping lead all the forbidden troops to eliminate their elite northern troops, then who will take care of them in the rear, it is necessary to leave some people to guard the base camp." ”
He Guan's proposal had the intention of being conservative and offensive, but it was not adopted. In the first year of Jing Kang, Liang Fangping was defeated and fled south. He Guan's reinforcements were less than 20,000, and after Liang Fangping fled, he also felt that the general situation had gone.
Soon after, Dajin invaded kaifeng, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, and He Guan also led an army to the capital and wanted to enter the palace to see the emperor, but the emperor did not see him, but instead let him garrison the western wall.
He Guan fought with the enemy here on the western wall for three days and three nights, and fought desperately against the city with his back to the city, and finally died under the city wall because of his injuries, at the age of 62. At the same time, many of his generals were also killed in battle. Emperor Qinzong of Song mourned his departure and buried him thickly.
After the Jin Dynasty invaded Kaifeng, it burned and plundered the city, and also captured the emperor and the nobles of the imperial palace alive, and the Northern Song Dynasty was destroyed.